tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post1999989373271992110..comments2024-01-07T02:13:14.908-05:00Comments on The Broke and the Bookish : Julia Muses on Reading ChallengesJanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01772938036847330151noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-40907403765758007822011-10-17T19:52:26.216-04:002011-10-17T19:52:26.216-04:00Whoot! All the encouragement! I love it! I think a...Whoot! All the encouragement! I love it! I think a few of you hit it on the head. Too high of goals. I just started my first real job last year so I read about 72 books (pretty average for me). But then I was still in training, and so when I set my yearly goals I didnt think of how much time would be going to the work stuff.<br /><br />I think I will try and complete my TBR one. I can do it... I'll have to blog about it here though. haha<br /><br />And I totally made up the term "Competitive Reading" because I thought it sounded funny. And it would be a good conversation starter.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831322497489282381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-16081228590227964842011-10-16T21:56:29.875-04:002011-10-16T21:56:29.875-04:00I love the idea of reading challenges, but given m...I love the idea of reading challenges, but given my eclectic tastes find that it's easier to do them in an informal manner. I'm trying to read across a wider variety of genres, and to read more female authors and authors from minority backgrounds this year. :)Stephanie @ Read In a Single Sittinghttp://www.readinasinglesitting.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-27502778185615682052011-10-16T07:49:26.986-04:002011-10-16T07:49:26.986-04:00I've only read 15 books so far this year, so I...I've only read 15 books so far this year, so I'm a bit behind to say the least on my reading challenges. I'm still enjoying it though! I guess my advice would be to count up how many books in total you've signed up to read and make sure it's realistic.Juliannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16717669339443902755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-82504849754525917282011-10-15T11:51:53.850-04:002011-10-15T11:51:53.850-04:00While I love the IDEA of reading challenges, I'...While I love the IDEA of reading challenges, I'm a fickle reader and, with my eclectic tastes, have a hard time sticking with them. That, and I suck at updating my challenge lists. <br /><br />I guess I just want to read what I want to read when I want to read it!Mary @ BookSwarmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04099395167194720599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-67401488113114149292011-10-15T10:32:37.107-04:002011-10-15T10:32:37.107-04:00There are one or two personal challenges I've ...There are one or two personal challenges I've been doing for a while & a 52-book challenge on GoodReads, but apart from that, I've never participated in one. The idea sounds awesome and I think I'd like to do one someday, but I wonder if that would make reading feel more like an assignment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-32583968225132347592011-10-14T11:48:48.905-04:002011-10-14T11:48:48.905-04:00This is the first year that I decided to do a read...This is the first year that I decided to do a reading challenge. I was living in England at the time, and thought it would be a great way to be a part of the 'universe'... So, I grabbed a few challenges. I have actually completed one, and when I was looking for a challenge, I made sure that I could (hopefully) complete it! <br /><br />The first one I took on is actually '100 books in 1001 Days.' I had seen a few people go for 100 books in a year... that's just insane and I don't think you are allowing Life to get in the way with something like that!<br /><br />Another one I signed up for is the <a href="http://booklovermusings.blogspot.com/p/twenty-eleven-challenge.html" rel="nofollow">2011 Challenge</a>... and it's helped me to branch out in different books.<br /><br />They are fun... try not to take them too seriously... and I am sure that I haven't done them completely right, as I only talk about the books on <a href="http://booklovermusings.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">my site</a>... But glad I have decided to do it...I might even create my own challenge for next year!Kate Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04342220424771084070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-64342253127460590672011-10-14T08:44:17.342-04:002011-10-14T08:44:17.342-04:00I love the idea of reading challenges and have fin...I love <i>the idea</i> of reading challenges and have finished a few, but in the context of blogging I find that they put an uncomfortable pressure on me to find books that fit the challenge and then write about them. <br /><br />The challenges I find most useful are the ones that allow me a wide choice of genre and themes (e.g. to discover 5 new authors or read a specific number of books in a given length of time), rather than narrower ones with themes or genres, e.g. horror novels, supernatural themes, the American Civil War, etc. <br /><br />For example, I thoroughly enjoyed hunting down books for a challenge to read one book connected with each of the continents, but gave up on a challenge to read 5 Gothic novels.Bibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960676264710788969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-24005339890528410582011-10-14T03:32:01.101-04:002011-10-14T03:32:01.101-04:00This is such a great topic Julia! I LOVE reading c...This is such a great topic Julia! I LOVE reading challenges. I don't really compete in anything else and this I can do :)<br />I always join in on the College Students Reading Challenge and making the list is half the fun. I do however accept that I'll probably not finish it, it's fun anyway.<br />And this year I also signed up for the Story Siren's Debut Author Challenge, which is tons of fun! I LOVE discovering new authors!Daisyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468649356197119023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-81763494763977548322011-10-13T23:38:02.792-04:002011-10-13T23:38:02.792-04:00When I first started my blog, I signed up for a fe...When I first started my blog, I signed up for a few challenges but, like you, life got in the way and they fell to the wayside. These days I have more free time and am hoping signing up for a few challenges (probably in 2012) will help me get back on track with reading!Kristilynhttp://www.readinginwinter.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-26608099287087461602011-10-13T23:04:12.938-04:002011-10-13T23:04:12.938-04:00I love reading challenges too and agree that they ...I love reading challenges too and agree that they make reading fun and more social. I like to see what others read to complete them but I definitely don't do spreadsheets. I just read what I want to read throughout the year and if I complete them, yeah! and if I don't, oh well!Amusedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12657337249497691366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-10387946935685240632011-10-13T17:33:00.308-04:002011-10-13T17:33:00.308-04:00I've been participating in the goodreads' ...I've been participating in the goodreads' seasonal reading challenges since the beginning, but I just couldn't do it anymore. I barely have time to read and I don't want to waste the reading time I do have trying to figure out where to fit a book. I challenged myself to read 52 books this year and to read a book starting with each letter in the alphabet. Those are my personal reading challenges this year.MamaMunkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09882954920258069443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-12865026238092006062011-10-13T17:13:34.554-04:002011-10-13T17:13:34.554-04:00I don't generally like reading challenges. It ...I don't generally like reading challenges. It takes the fun out of reading for me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10385787689075231229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-35879950517805505592011-10-13T16:35:34.620-04:002011-10-13T16:35:34.620-04:00I love challenges! I think they make reading fun, ...I love challenges! I think they make reading fun, kind of like a puzzle. I want to read a million books anyway, so why not make it a teensy bit easier on myself and single out the ones that need to be completed for the challenges I've set for myself! Since I didn't start consistently blogging until about six months ago, I didn't start many of the challenges I think look really great--because the year was almost halfway thru by then. But I've got my eye on some great-looking ones for next year! <br /><br />I say you should totally try and pick back up your challenges, at least the one you've mentioned here from Roof Beam Reader! And when you start them, aim kinda lower than you would've last year. That way, when you achieve the goal and go over, you'll feel like a ROCK STAR. :) <br /><br />~AsheleyAsheley T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03908795522290889438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-74764092463041357322011-10-13T16:21:49.309-04:002011-10-13T16:21:49.309-04:00Well, I suppose this is a good reminder that I'...Well, I suppose this is a good reminder that I'm a bit behind on the one I set up for this year! <br /><br />I think challenges are fun, but I never take them too seriously - and this is the first time I've ever heard it called 'Competitive Reading"!lisa :)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11429572773434109490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-174869783672476862011-10-13T15:59:55.729-04:002011-10-13T15:59:55.729-04:00I try to participate in a few each year although I...I try to participate in a few each year although I do make an attempt to only participate in ones that really interest me. That way I still have an interest later in the year when I realize I still have a few books left to go.<br /><br />What you can do is set some personal reading goals instead. This year I'm making an attempt to finish all the Jane Austen books I haven't read yet and read at least one non-fiction book a month. I'm sorta failing on the last one though... :-)Amyhttp://www.justbookreading.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-5114677449998808752011-10-13T15:03:23.433-04:002011-10-13T15:03:23.433-04:00You can do it! I'm still 4 books shy of compl...You can do it! I'm still 4 books shy of completing my goal, and definitely nervous as some of my books are pretty long... BUT I'm going to give it my best. I just started Dante's Inferno and am hoping that doesn't take me months to read. LOLAdamhttp://www.roofbeamreader.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-8322456585980164632011-10-13T14:34:36.271-04:002011-10-13T14:34:36.271-04:00I am completely new to the world of book blogging,...I am completely new to the world of book blogging, but when I found out about reading challenges it confused me. Why would reading, and challenge be in the same sentence? That makes reading sound like, not fun! I think I get it now, it's just a way to push yourself to read more, but personally, I like to take my time and enjoy each book that I read, and a challenge might make me feel anxiety.<br />BethanyBethany (youngbooklove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00554527930373566436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-31129123837414370782011-10-13T13:51:03.558-04:002011-10-13T13:51:03.558-04:00I signed up for a reading challenge this year, but...I signed up for a reading challenge this year, but real life hit me like a ton of bricks and it fell by the wayside. I'm considering taking on one or two next year, but I have this little personality trait where if I feel like I HAVE to do something, sometimes I just won't do it. Like I'm spiting myself. We'll see how it goes.Molly Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03145974187948434572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-56183126989275297462011-10-13T12:44:09.866-04:002011-10-13T12:44:09.866-04:00I take part in the Seasonal Reading Challenge (Goo...I take part in the Seasonal Reading Challenge (Goodreads). It's so in depth that I can fit the books I really want to read into any task - and since I will NEVER be able to actually complete all the tasks, I can pick and choose the ones I do, so that I'm not left stuck reading books that I'm not really into (either the genre or subject matter).Tanyahttp://www.girlxoxo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-38639111873761037032011-10-13T12:31:14.660-04:002011-10-13T12:31:14.660-04:00I take part in one a year, maybe two. i find that ...I take part in one a year, maybe two. i find that not taking them too seriously is ok. if you read a book too fast to get it done so you can chalk it off the list makes it so that you dont remember that book or fully get that books expierence. Also not completeing a challenge is OK as well, you are not a failure, life happens and if you had fun and found new books then you won anyways. (i sound like a sitcom mom)LunaMothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06657595319439094936noreply@blogger.com